Preloved Bloggers Event

Hello! I’ve been a busy bee lately, spending the last week in London then Leeds. Today I’m skipping to my weekend t’up North, as I was kindly invited to an intimate blogger event in Manchester for Preloved. I was so excited to receive the email from the wonderful Terri Lowe because I have been a fan of her blog for a long time and always wanted to meet her. I headed over to Manchester for the day, with my fellow blogger pals Kel, Simone and Sammie, for some lunch and blogging.

Preloved are a company I was already aware of as our dog was listed on there as a puppy – something I will be talking about in more detail in another post. Basically put, you can list anything you wish to sell, unwanted or second-hand for free. It's a great website to check out at this time of year if you are spring cleaning! To keep with the ethical and DIY ethos of the website, the event centred around some craft activities. I love getting crafty and trying out the various DIYs from my Pinterest account, so this was the perfect event for me.

We started by creating our own coffee body scrub. These have been floating around to buy on Instagram recently and I couldn’t understand why you would pay for something which is so easy to do yourself. It was great to try and make my own, although it was a pretty messy task! I was a little sceptical of this, I must admit, until I tried it. Oh wow, I was genuinely blown away. My legs were instantly smooth, soft and hydrated and I couldn't stop touching my legs all day. I prompty bought a huge tub of coconut oil as this is now going to become a major part of my skincare routine.

Then, Terri’s granddad had kindly provided us with a pile of keys to paint and turn into necklaces. We used some nail varnish to add some colour to our keys and then threaded them with a pretty ribbon. I love quirky jewellery so this is something I will genuinely wear – in fact it went straight around my neck to wear home!

The event was one of those lovely, friendly events and I had a wonderful afternoon. The venue was also really interesting. It was called Ziferblat and is an exciting new concept; tea, coffee, cereal and biscuits are all free but you pay for your time. It costs 5p a minute to do whatever you like in the café, whether that be study, hold a meeting or turn a key into a necklace! I thought the concept was great fun and something I would definitely use to study. It is a different way of looking at things, much like Preloved, and I had a lovely day out in Manchester as a result. So thank you to Terri and the Preloved team!

Have you used Preloved? Do you have any favourite DIYs to share? 

P.S. Don't forget to enter my competition to win an awesome Game of Thrones book!

Jess

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Giveaway: Win An Inside HBO's Game of Thrones Book!

As part of my week in London, I was lucky enough to win a competition as part of London Book and Screen Week. The prize was a private screening of the ‘best’ episodes of Game Of Thrones so far. I am huge fan of Game of Thrones, having read all the books so far and watched the TV series. The event was held in Soho House, an incredible members’ only club in, you guessed it, Soho and myself, my friend and a couple of other competition winners were treated to three episodes from the previous series.  It was great fun to watch Blackwater Bay, The Rains of Castermere and finally The Mountain and The Viper on a huge cinema screen rather than on my laptop!

We were also treated to a new book published by Orion concerning Series 3 and 4 of the TV series; Inside HBO's Game of Thrones: Season 3 and 4 by C.A.Taylor. I love all the other books about Game of Thrones which are popping up and I already own The World of Ice and Fire alongside the series. This book gives you more information than ever before about the TV series, detailing interviews with cast and crew, insider stories and behind the scenes costume and set designs. 

There were a few books left over thanks to the competition winners who didn’t attend the event (madness, I know!) Therefore, I cheekily mentioned my blog and asked if I could run a giveaway. Luckily, the wonderful PR Sam said yes so you can win your very own copy of the title:

This is a UK only giveaway I am afraid, but all you need to do is follow me on Bloglovin. If you want to improve your chances, you can follow me on my other social networks for extra entries. The competition will close on the 12th May  – may the Gods be with you.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Jess

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Fitness Friday: Learning to Run

I don’t run. I’ve always done sport of some description; swimming, ballet, gymnastics and exercise classes but the one thing I don’t do is run. I just can’t. Within seconds, my lungs are burning, my breathing is shallow and my calves tense up. This year I am trying to push myself like I have never done before in my life – whether this is by travelling to New York, aiming to gain a distinction in my Masters’ degree or say yes to opportunities which come my way. So this week I signed up to the Race for Life. Yes, it may ‘only be 5k,’ but I am terrified!

So today I don’t have any tips, tricks or exercises for you, like on my usual Fitness Friday. Today I have a question. How do you run?

If you are a runner, how did you start? What are your tips for a complete newbie?

And most importantly of all, how did you start to enjoy it?

Oh, and if you'd like to sponsor me, check out my Race for Life Fundraising Page. I'll be keeping you updated on my progress!

Jess

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OOTD: Cath Kidston and Monopoly

Last week, I headed down to London for the London Book Fair; a huge conference for rights and sales in the publishing industry. I spent three days attending lectures, talking to members of the industry and attempting to formulate ideas for my dissertation. However, amongst this, I also got to attend a fun blog event with Joe Blogs for #LandGGamesNight – playing Monopoly!

Monopoly, Prosecco and Dominos pizza; what more could you want from a Tuesday evening? I was nervous about meeting some London bloggers, but everyone was so friendly and luckily nobody could remember how to play Monopoly! We were put into teams and played for two hours, before counting up how much money we had made. I didn’t win, but I wasn’t far from the top, so I felt pretty proud of my efforts. The Joe Blogs team were so friendly and I really enjoyed finally meeting the friendly faces behind their weekly email blast. Also, thanks to Legal and General for setting up the event!

 

Dress: Cath Kidston. Shoes: Primark

I couldn’t resist wearing my Cath Kidston London bus print dress for the event. I picked it up in the sale recently, having had my eye on it since it first hit stores. I love the retro style of the dress, although it is perhaps a little long for me (isn’t that always the way when you’re short?) The pattern is just fantastic and a demonstration of what Cath Kidston do best; quirky and intricate prints with a great sense of fun.  I let the dress do the talking and simply teamed it with a pair of flats from Primark and embraced the beautiful sunshine. Thank you What Katt Eats for the photos!

When was the last time you played monopoly?

Jess

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British Beauty Blogger: Dream Box III

If you love your beauty and your blogs, you have inevitably heard of British Beauty Blogger and her boxes. If you haven't, Jane is a fantastic beauty-blogger who occasionally works in collaboration with Latest in Beauty to provide incredible limited-edition beauty boxes. I've always lusted after the offerings and this time, I couldn't resist finally treating myself to the Dream Box III:

The box cost me just £21.95 including P&P and includes this huge array of goodies. I love that it is a one off purchase, without tying you into a long subscription of varying quality and there are a fantastic array of both high-end and high-street products. Out of the box, I only owned the Bourjois Velvet Matte in Nude-Ist before, but since it is a firm favourite of mine, the fact it was included was actually a huge bonus as I wanted another!

The box is everything I hoped it would be and I didn't know quite where to start! I wanted to run through some of my stand-out favourites. First of all, I adore the Nuxe Masque Creme Fraiche. I've heard incredible things about Nuxe and was excited to see it included for the first time in a British Beauty Blogger box. This face mask is thin yet so hydrating and I love popping it on for ten minutes whilst I tidy my room or do my hair. Another bonus is that it's clear, so I will be popping it in my hand luggage for any flights or long journeys for a moisturising boost for travel-tired skin, and nobody need know!

The Ole Henriksen Pure Truth Melting Cleansing Balm is a revelation. First things first, it smells delicious and the texture is wonderful. Like an oil but also a jelly, it's the best way to remove my makeup and is simply a joy to use. Just a small dab is enough to deal with my eye makeup, so it's going to last me a long time before I inevitably repurchase.

The Hand Chemistry hand cream is thick and nourishing, and great for replenishing my poor hands which are always dry. For my dry lips, the Dr Organic Moroccan Argan Oil stick is brilliant; it feels great on my lips and I love anything with Argan Oil in it. The only slightly strange thing is it twists the other way to every other lip balm I own. which always confuses me! My skin has been feeling rather dry and cracked after too many late nights, so these products have been getting a lot of use lately.

The Salon Science Reglosse Smoothing Serum is another new brand for me which I am now a fan of! My hair is in generally good quality, but this tames any flyaway hairs I may have and helps protect it from any heat from my GHDs. I also find it easier to brush after applying this to my ends. Finally, I wanted to mention the Orelia Gold Tattoos, which I am very excited to wear when I head to Croatia next month!

All in all, there is nothing in the box I don't enjoy and I could go over every product and praise it! It's by far the best value and highest quality box I have received, so I will be keeping an eye out for future boxes. It's taken me a while to take the plunge, but I am now a British Beauty Blogger Box addict!

Have you tried these boxes? Which other boxes would you recommend?

Jess

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Fitness Friday: MyProtein

Hoorah it's time for (a slightly late) Fitness Friday! I'm doing fairly well at upping my fitness game - with the odd blip like this week when I have been away for the whole week, making working out a bit of a nightmare. Why is it that when you’re on a winning streak, something always gets in the way? However, I know that the worst part of my fitness routine is my diet and I'm trying to ensure I get the right things into my food. I've been wanting to update my diet and I have now added some MyProtein to my routine:

I was sent a variety of products to try by MyProtein. My favourite item I received was the Impact Whey Protein. I've been wanting to get on the protein bandwagon for a while, but wasn't sure what to choose. However, first things first - why use protein shakes? Simply put, protein heals the muscles which you 'tear' in a workout. You are born with a certain amount of muscles and the only way to build them is to tear them and allow them to repair themselves to be bigger and stronger. And no, this won't make you bulky; just leaner, stronger and more toned.

This whey protein is not only good for you but it's also the best ever flavour; Cookies and Cream! One scoop combined with 250ml of skimmed milk makes a surprisingly delicious shake, which I am more than happy to drink. As well as its obvious benefits, its particularly useful for me post-workout as it gives me something to drink whilst I cook my lunch after the gym. I personally don't use it as a meal supplement, but rather as a post-workout boost of protein and calcium.

Before my workout, I've also been taking Garcina +. Simply put, they are caffeine tablets to get your metabolism going and burning fat throughout your workout. You take them around 45 minutes before your workout in order to give yourself a boost - it's a simple yet effective way to add something extra to your workout.

I was also sent two lots of tablets to eat with food, one to three times a day. Green Tea is proven to burn fat and these Green Tea Extract do exactly the same job. Personally I don't like green tea, and have gone through various stages of trying to train myself to like it for its health benefits. With these, I don't need to force myself to down some green tea, as I can just have one of these tablets instead with a meal. I've also been taking CLA, or Conjugated Linoleic Acid with my meals. It's a fatty acid which has been proven to minimise calorie and saturated fat intake - I'm excited to see the long term effects!

I was also treated to a Double Choc Chip Protein Cookie and a Strawberry and Banana Breakfast Smoothie. Snacking is, simply put, the devil and these are sure to come in handy when I'm craving something naughty like crisps or bread. I'm reliably informed by my brother that the cookie is very tasty so I've been saving it for a treat! All in all, I'm really pleased with my goodies and I will be giving you all an update on if I think they have worked or not. They are easy to fit into my routine and I know that I will certainly be buying the protein again at least. I'm loving being part of the protein shake gang!

Have you tried MyProtein? What are your must have additions to your diet?

*Products provided in return for my honest review*

Jess

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House of Fraser: Buy & Collect

Cambridge isn't exactly known for being the most ground-breaking; tradition is definitely its thing. However, this isn't true of its shopping scene anymore thanks to the new 'Buy & Collect' House of Fraser store which has recently opened. The first of its kind in the country and set up inside Café Nero on Fitzroy Street, you can not only collect your purchases from House of Fraser for free but also shop there.

I was invited to the store to try out the 'Buy & Collect' premise, drink some coffee and of course, do
some shopping! The store works like a Collect + store, where you can collect your orders for free on a day which is convenient to you. As someone who always tries to avoid paying P&P where possible, this is a huge bonus. Another fantastic idea is that the store contains a changing room. You know when a clothing order arrives at your home, but doesn't fit? I always want to chase the postman to return it straight away! Now, you don't have to wait until you make it to the Post Office to return your order. You can try on your order at Buy & Collect, then return it straight it away or (hopefully) take it home. I returned a couple of items after trying them on and the process was quick and hassle free.

If you want to shop at Buy & Collect, there are 'kiosks' where you can browse the website and staff are more than happy to offer advice for you. They certainly know their stuff and are obviously genuine fans of House of Fraser. If you want to browse more casually, you can take an iPad to scroll through with your coffee. You can order as late as 10pm and your parcel will still arrive the next day.

I was really impressed with the range of brands available at House of Fraser. I must admit I rarely shop with them, but I certainly would again. There is currently a fantastic sale running, which is full of bargains and my best find was this gorgeous petite dress from Dorothy Perkins for just £10. To name a few, House of Fraser stock Sugarhill Boutique, Crown & Glory, Mango, Warehouse, ChiChi and Dorothy Perkins - and that's not to mention the huge range of beauty brands! There are always great offers running and currently you can get £10 off House of Fraser's 'Beauty Confidential,' their favourite products, when you buy anything else from the beauty department.

 I'm excited for some outfit posts! Here's what I chose:

Dorothy Perkins Petite Dress (£10). Babycham Rochelle Shoes (£27.50) Warehouse Sandals (£32)

Sequin Playsuit (£18 - out of stock) Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray (£9)

Have you tried Buy & Collect? What do you think of my purchases?

*Gift card provided in exchange for my honest review*



Jess

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OOTD and DIY: Re-Adorn

Hello! Today's post is a bit of a combo one, including both an outfit post and, more excitingly, a 'refashion.' I picked up this dress from Adorned as I was drawn to its beautiful print, but I knew that I wanted to chop it to bits to create a new, updated piece of clothing:

Skirt: Adorned (DIY). Top: New Look. Sandals: Topshop. Necklace: New Look. Coat: Asos.

What I Did:
I took the dress and promptly chopped it in half with some fabric scissors. The top half I hemmed into a crop top, which still needs shortening by another inch or so to fit me perfectly. The bottom half I shortened to a more flattering knee length and hemmed. I also made sure that I left enough length to roll the top of the skirt, in order to thread it with elastic for an elasticated waist. There are some useful instructions on how to do this on Pinterest, such as this elastic waist skirt tutorial.

The skirt becomes much more modern with a shorter hemline and by hemming it myself, it means that it hits me perfectly just about the knee. I love the button down style, which is very on trend for Spring. It just shows how vintage pieces come back into fashion and a little editing can breathe new life into something which could have easily been neglected.

How I Styled It:
I paired my new skirt with a crop top from New Look. I've been on the hunt for a v-neck crop top for a while, but they all seem to have ridiculous straps which aren't very appropriate. This New Look version is perfect, both for daytime and nights out. Although it could do with perhaps an extra inch, the top works well with the blue skirt. I added a statement necklace and my favourite Topshop sandals. These are still going strong after over two years and are my favourite thing to wear in the Summer.

What do you think of my DIY refashion? Do you have any tips for transforming vintage pieces?

Jess

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Fitness Friday: 5 tips for a more effective leg day

It's time for Fitness Friday! As part of my constant battle to become one of those 'fit people,' I am sharing my fitness tips, routines and stories with you all. Today I wanted to talk about 5 easy things you can do to make your leg day more effective. Squats and other leg exercises have become a necessity in a fitness routine but that doesn't mean everyone does it right. Hopefully my five steps will help you get more out of your gym session:

1. Take off your trainers

This seems like a slightly weird one, but take off your trainers for leg day. It allows you to really see what your feet are doing - are you pushing down on your heels? Are you lifting your toes? Are your feet straight? Your technique will be instantly better; after all, if Arnie does it, then take note!

2. Place a bench behind you

My flexibility is my weakness and this shows when I squat. A great tip to make sure you get the right depth is to place a bench behind you. As you squat, try to sit down on the bench (without actually sitting down and letting the tension go!) It gives you something physical to focus on to improve your squat technique.

3. Increase the weight

If you squat just with your bodyweight, then get some weight on! Squats with a bar in the squat rack are so much more effective than doing so without. Try the bar empty on its own first, then build up.

4. Decrease the weight

Wait, you just told me to increase the weight? I know but there is a balance - increasing too quickly can cause bad technique. If you're depth isn't right, try dropping the weight down to focus on technique for a few sessions and see the difference.

5. Stretch!

My final piece of advice is something I need to do myself - stretch! After all, I am the idiot who physically had to crawl up the stairs after a particularly hard leg day this week. It may feel good to push yourself that much, but not the next morning when you can't walk! Invest in a foam roller and make sure you warm up and cool down There are great tutorials all over YouTube and Pinterest, but this gives you a good basic routine. 

What are your tips to get the most out of your leg day?

Jess

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#CambMeetUp

I love meeting local bloggers and have missed my amazing Leeds bloggers since moving down South. However, it turns out there are some pretty nice bloggers in Cambridge too and I recently got the chance to meet a few of them at the #CambMeetUp. The meet up itself was held in Revolution and I was amazed by how many bloggers there were in Cambridge, after assuming that there were hardly any of us! Pippa, from Clashing Time, did an incredible job of involving a huge range of brands to talk about their businesses and even treat us to some goodies. It was a brilliant mix of some very well-known brands and smaller independent companies.

The Million Dollar Moisturiser from Lush is an intense facial moisturiser, with the added benefit of SPF 15. It's a little heavy for me to wear on a daily basis underneath makeup, but I think it'll be great in Summer to provide some sun protection. I'll be taking it to Croatia with me next month! We were also treated to a miniature L'Occitane's Cleansing Oil. I love my The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil, so it's great to compare the two as I think they're a great part of my beauty regime. The L'Occitane version is very gentle and the size is perfect for travelling.

There were also some independent brands who I hadn't come across before. I love the cute cake-themed badges from Jilly Jilly - they couldn't be more perfect for me! This beautiful scarf from Lisa Angel was also so generous. I love the tie-dye and purple tassles, along with the motto 'we are made out of stars, you and I.' Finally, what better theme for a Cambridge meet up than a bicycle necklace? This one is from Claireabellemakes and is a cute addition to my jewellery collection.

There were also some tasty treats from Chocolat Chocolat and Kettle Chips, which were obviously demolished before I got round to photographing them! I'd also like to thanks The Blogger Programme for helping Pippa with her meet, and of course Pippa again for allowing me to meet some lovely local bloggers!

All products included in the #CambMeetUp Goody Bag.

Jess

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OOTD: I Wanna Be Adorned

It's time for an outfit post! Yes, I love clothes and so I love talking about them on the internet. I was excited to get the opportunity to shoot an outfit post in the beautiful city of Cambridge. I felt like a proper 'fashion blogger' as I posed on someone's doorstep, praying that they didn't come home or that my friend got ran over taking photos in the street! That's the weird reality of fashion posts, guys!

Dress: Adorned. Turtleneck: Matalan. Shoes: Primark. Hat: Asos.

This dress is another stunning find from the wonderful Sarah from Adorned. I am totally obsessed with Sarah's stuff and she always has some amazing vintage gems on the Adorned website and Depop. She's also a bloomin' stylish lady who had headed to Cambridge to visit for the weekend, so I obviously made her take photos of me in my purchase in return for shooting her for her Lookbook page (check it out for some hippy-fabulousness!)

I love the oversized shift dress with the fantastic bright blue and intricate pattern - not to mention the fact it was a total bargain at just a tenner. I layered it with a maroon polo underneath and left the dress flowing and oversized. I adore the jewel-like colour combination and turtlenecks have become a massive wardrobe staple (as you can probably tell from my last outfit post too!) They are so easy to wear underneath dresses to add some warmth and interest to the look. I added my favourite floppy hat from Asos and some smart but comfortable pumps which I picked up from Primark for a couple of quid.

I really enjoyed shooting in Cambridge and exploring some of the quaint backstreets of my local city. I've been working on posting outfit posts from locations other than my back garden and I always love the results. The real question is, where is that photographer boyfriend in my life to take all these photos of me?

Jess

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